Official 1998 Sea Ray Sundancer 290 Thread

BillK2632 said:
The 310 of that era is definitely a step up and you have v-drives as an option. However if your thinking about a 310 over a 290 then I think you should look at a 340. Probably one of the best boats SeaRay has made and can find some really good ones out there. Having had a 290, wishing I had bought the 310, but looking back should have bought a 340.
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or a 410..
 
BillK2632 said:
The 310 of that era is definitely a step up and you have v-drives as an option. However if your thinking about a 310 over a 290 then I think you should look at a 340. Probably one of the best boats SeaRay has made and can find some really good ones out there. Having had a 290, wishing I had bought the 310, but looking back should have bought a 340.
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The 310 is pushing the size limit in my dock, and my wallet.. Are you talking about same era 340?
 
The 310 is pushing the size limit in my dock, and my wallet.. Are you talking about same era 340?
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Yes - 2000-2002 era 340 or 1998/1999 330 (basically same boat). Not dissing the 290 at all, I owned one that I bought new and it was a great boat, but size wise I wished I had stepped up to a 310 (a 310 was top of my price range and 340 was out of my price range at the time). I bought the 290, loved it, but with our daughter + new puppy + a friend we out grew it - did the lake house thing and thats how I ended up with the 185. But if you are looking at used ones in the 2000 +/- era, there really is not much difference in the prices of 340's / 330's vs 310's and it is definitely a lot more boat. All I am saying is if it were me and I could swing it, I would be looking at 330's/340's over a 310. We sold the lake house, and when our daughter is finally off the payroll, my plan is a early 2000's 340.
 
BillK2632 said:
Yes - 2000-2002 era 340 or 1998/1999 330 (basically same boat). Not dissing the 290 at all, I owned one that I bought new and it was a great boat, but size wise I wished I had stepped up to a 310 (a 310 was top of my price range and 340 was out of my price range at the time). I bought the 290, loved it, but with our daughter + new puppy + a friend we out grew it - did the lake house thing and thats how I ended up with the 185. But if you are looking at used ones in the 2000 +/- era, there really is not much difference in the prices of 340's / 330's vs 310's and it is definitely a lot more boat. All I am saying is if it were me and I could swing it, I would be looking at 330's/340's over a 310. We sold the lake house, and when our daughter is finally off the payroll, my plan is a early 2000's 340.
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4 years and 2 young kids in a 290. I agree.
 
We're having the same conversations now, a new house is in order first but with kids on the plan I can't imagine us keeping the 290 for more than a couple more years. We're likely going to go 380/400/410 from the 97-2001 era
 
I have a '98 290 w/ a single 7.4L & Bravo 3. Although the boat is prob under-powered with the one engine, I think the tabs are also undersized (12" x 12", 2-1/16" stoke vs. 2-1/2" std) making it difficult to get on plane; it's OK once it does. I've been emailing w/ Bennett about some options to improve performance. They asked h[FONT=&quot]ow much room I have to work with on the transom without moving the actuator’s mounting. Since the boat is in the water, I can't get a good picture of my stern. Anyone out there have some good pix that show the available space around that tabs? Thanks in advance!!![/FONT]
 
Gibby said:
I have a '98 290 w/ a single 7.4L & Bravo 3. Although the boat is prob under-powered with the one engine, I think the tabs are also undersized (12" x 12", 2-1/16" stoke vs. 2-1/2" std) making it difficult to get on plane; it's OK once it does. I've been emailing w/ Bennett about some options to improve performance. They asked h[FONT=&amp]ow much room I have to work with on the transom without moving the actuator’s mounting. Since the boat is in the water, I can't get a good picture of my stern. Anyone out there have some good pix that show the available space around that tabs? Thanks in advance!!![/FONT]
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i believe i have pictures on my tablet. i'll look when i get the chance tomorrow. i have the same issue and i have plenty of power. i feel like i am busy pushing buttons instead of just enjoying the boat, once on plane and settled in i feel sometimes like i want to go just a little bit slower to be comfortable for the conditions but i'm stuck at a minimum of 23knts to maintain plane with full tabs. there will be some modifications to mine this winter for sure. i can't stand in rough conditions that i can't go slower. i feel like 3knots down to 20knts would make a huge difference sometimes but would prefer even a little bit slower too. i know i need to look into a 4 blade prop to help out as well.

Also, I have a huge issue with the location of the tab switches. directly under the ignition switches is rediculous. someone at seray hasn't ever operated a boat in big seas because i have shut off my ignition to one of the engines more than once while reaching for the tab button in rough water at about 3200 rpms. it's getting either moved to the other side where it should be or i'll just use a bennet switch mounted right in front of the throttles.
 
From Bennett: <Installing another set of tabs to work with your currently installed trim tabs will increase the lift capabilities of the trim tab system. If you are not able to install another side or a wider span (side-to-side) trim tabs, then you would need to look at replacing the complete system with one of our Premier Line BXT Trim Tabs systems. This type can handle longer chord (fore-to-aft) trim tab like 14”, 16” & 18”.>
 
did everyone sell their boats?
been awfully quiet around here...

i finally got the oil leak squared away and the boat is running great. definitely need the starboard engine upgraded to the 357 and some 4 blade props. we had 6 adults on board and 2 kids with full tabs and took forever to plane. yes, the bottom was dirty but we ran at 24-25knots for 7 miles or so, so the bottom got cleaner and on the way back from oak bluffs it wouldn't plane again. (side note, saw a white shark right outside oak bluffs harbor). now i just need to hit a scratch ticket for a couple hundred grand.
 
I hear that.... Powerball would be great......LOL
I am in the middle of a repower myself.... Going to upgrade to 4 barrels, and hopefully have many years of no issues.....
What was the culprit for the oil leak??
 
there are bushings inside the remote oil filter housing where it attaches to the motor apparently one of them wasnt sitting right and had a bur on it most likely from poor machining. mechanic found it, filed it smooth and cleaned the others too apparently. he said he was embarrassed that he didnt find it the first time.
my oil filter gauge was a loose ground that was messing with my mind.
 
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Still have ours but unfortunately just finished all winterizing today aside from taking the canvas down and putting the wrap on. It was a great year for us. We did blow the stbd lower unit, but it was a warranty claim so didn't cost us too much. Aside from that, no issues.

I toyed with selling it as I had a chance to spend some time on a few 400 sundancers. Completely different boat, but a new house is in order first. We want to get a few more years out of the 290 though.
 
AFD said:
there are bushings inside the remote oil filter housing where it attaches to the motor apparently one of them wasnt sitting right and had a bur on it most likely from poor machining. mechanic found it, filed it smooth and cleaned the others too apparently. he said he was embarrassed that he didnt find it the first time.
my oil filter gauge was a loose ground that was messing with my mind.
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What was your break-in procedure.... I have heard many different ways, everyone seems to have a differing opinion.....
20 hrs seems like a long time....
 
gtfireftr said:
What was your break-in procedure.... I have heard many different ways, everyone seems to have a differing opinion.....
20 hrs seems like a long time....
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after install and splash, the shop put 2 running hours on the new motor. re torqued a few bolts and nuts and called me saying we were all set for a sea trial. i went and put an hour and half on it with the owner of the shop and we signed a few papers and started the warranty and recorded the hour meter. i was told for the first 20 hours not to run the motor for more than 5 minutes at the same rpm but running on plane for extended time was not an issue. 20hrs was easy because the first trip was about 7 hours and we just varied the rpms every few minutes while taking the boat south from Boston harbor to Falmouth. when we came out of the canal into buzzards bay was the last time we checked the oil and everything was great. we then had 10 miles of garbage seas slamming into us every few seconds making it rough and a lot of load for the motors. both performed perfectly but when we arrived at the dock we found oil in the bilge. i called the shop and they gave me a gallon of oil and some oil absorbing pads and (since i was over 60 miles from them now) they gave me the information of 3 shops in the area that could easily cover any warranty work or we could bring the boat closer or back and they would take care of it. we called the first one and they found a loose oil line to the remote oil filter and tightened it. i changed the oil a couple weeks later and sent out a sample. came back perfect and no worries. took the boat out a couple times for an hour or so and no issues. hopped to the vineyard a bunch of times and on one really crappy day with wide 6-8' seas we got the crap kicked out of us and when we got back i found oil again. i cleaned everything, couldn't find the leak and scratched my head over and over again. finally had the chance to take it back and they solved it right away. hopefully. the bilge was clean when i got the boat back except for some cleaning suds from whatever they used to clean the oil so i dumped whatever was left of my fresh water tank into the bilge with a hose i had onboard and rinsed everything out and took it back to my grandparents dock, bilge was bone dry under the motor when we got back, no oil.

i'm going to check and see what i can get for the other perfect take out and decide if we can afford another 357 to match the new one this winter. obviously when up on plane there is no difference but with the boat loaded or in rough water. the new motor is noticeably so much more powerful and should have come stock in this boat. 2 of those motors and a pair of 4 blade 21p props and it would be perfect...except for the undersized tabs.
 
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Strecker25 said:
I toyed with selling it as I had a chance to spend some time on a few 400 sundancers. Completely different boat, but a new house is in order first. We want to get a few more years out of the 290 though.
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i love the layout for hanging out on a rainy day or at the slip but wouldn't want to be "cruising" in the cabin. if you know what i mean. i like the other sundancer style personally.

when the girls get a little bigger and we can spend more time on the boat, i am planning on a size upgrade but i've been eyeing the 370's because i like being alone at the helm and don't like the wide seat right next to the helm station. my wife like being on her own side as well. the new 350's are laid out a lot like our 290's which is awesome but i don't think it's enough of a size upgrade. of course i would have to take one out into some rough water to know if it's big enough to enjoy. not a storm but big water like we can get even on a nice day on the outer cape
 
AFD said:
i love the layout for hanging out on a rainy day or at the slip but wouldn't want to be "cruising" in the cabin. if you know what i mean. i like the other sundancer style personally.

when the girls get a little bigger and we can spend more time on the boat, i am planning on a size upgrade but i've been eyeing the 370's because i like being alone at the helm and don't like the wide seat right next to the helm station. my wife like being on her own side as well. the new 350's are laid out a lot like our 290's which is awesome but i don't think it's enough of a size upgrade. of course i would have to take one out into some rough water to know if it's big enough to enjoy. not a storm but big water like we can get even on a nice day on the outer cape
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should have been more specific, the 400's were 97,99, and 01's so the traditional sundancer style. The beam and headroom in the cabin of those boats is pretty amazing, and when we stepped onto them the wife and I knew right away we would be looking for at least that size for the upgrade. I like the 370, but the door on both the master and aft rooms makes the boat much more livable for a family or two couples on a weekend, imo. I'll definetly want the diesels in it though
 
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